Door or like latch



June 17 1924. I 1,498,243

E. M. LAWRENCE DOOR 0R LIKE LATCH Filed Nov. 15 1922 Patented June 17, 1924.

airs stares.

earn PATENT OFFlCE.

, ETI-IEL MAY LAWRENCE, 0F HAMPTON WICK, ENGLAND.

noon on [LIKE LATCH.

Application filed November 15, 1922. Serial No. $1,063.

T0 all whom it may concern: I

Beit known that I, ETHELMAY LAW latches of the type having a bolt or latching-- member with a, bevelled surface whereby it may be forced back by a locking staple or striking p'late over which the bevelled por-.

tion rubs' during the relative movement that takes place between the bolt and the staple orp'late on theoperation of closing the door Such 'a bolt can be improperly forced back by a gimlet, putty knife or other or the "like.

appliance at'times when the door is not open if the appliance be so actuated in contact with the bevelled portion aforesaid that there is a rubbing action between the two in imitation ofthat which occurs between bolt and staple in the closing of the door. These-bolts are usually springcontrolled and so snap back into locking position after the door or the like in being shut has moved sufficiently far to bring the bolt beyond or behind the edge of the locking staple.

The present invention has for one of its objects to prevent the bolt being improperly forced back in the manner aforesaid.

"According to the primary feature of the present invention, there 1s provided a door.

or like latch comprising a locking-staple and a spring-bolt having a bevelled surface whichlies completely across the depth of the bolt and rubs over the locking-staple to force the bolt back during the operation of theclosing of the door or the like, said bevelled surface being so recessed as to leave ribs at its upper and lower edges and to form between thema channel and so that a portion of the bevelled surface remains for presentation to a co-operating pressing surface on the locking-staple lying completely across thedepth of the bolt. each rib having a groove lying in a direction transverse to that in which the bolt rubs against the locking staple, which grooves open at their ends directed toward one another into said channel. I I

"The invention also includesother means ofarresting the relative movement of the ways of recessing the bevelledIsurface of the bolt. 1

For, a more complete understanding-of the invention there will now be described,

by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, certain constructional forms of latch according to the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan, partly in section, showing a latch according to the present invention in closing position;

Figure 2 is avface view of the construction shown in Figure 1; i

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 10f a modification;- and Figure lisaview corresponding to Figure 2 of the construction shown in Figure 3.

Like reference numeralsindicate like parts throughout the drawings. I p Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a door or the like is indicated at 10 and a cooperating frame at 11 which may be formed with a rebate into which the door swings. The casing. of the latch isindicated at 12 and the locking-staple at 13, the bolt 14 projecting into the interior thereof. The crack betvgeen the door and door frame is indicated at 1 I 1 I i Thebevelled surface 15 of the boltis recessed to leave upstanding ribs 19 and 20.

These are so arranged that when viewed end-on, as inFigure 1, the bevelled surface appears continuous. Such a bolt will be forced back by a locking staple having a rubbing surface 21 which is quite sharp, and the recesses between the ribs 19 and 20 will operate to trap any such implement as a gimlet or narrow edged tool which may be inserted through the crack 17 and pressed against the bevelled edge of thebolt.

In the construction shown in Figures 3 and 4 the bevelled surface 15 is recessed to leave only ribs 22 and 23 atthe top and bottom'edges of the bolt. In this way a housing is formed for a movable member 24 which has an extension 25 which is perforated to be threaded'over the stems 26 of the bolt. The perforations are sufficiently large to permit the member 24: to move a little about the stems. The springs 27 for the bolt bear against the portion 25 and tend to maintain the member 24: with its outer surface substantially in alignment with the bevelled lOO surface 15. The member 24: carries a pin 28 opposite the end of which is a slot 29 in the bolt and if the member 24 is pressed by a gimlet or other implement it will give under such pressure and. force the pin 28 through the slot 29. Thus, if the bolt be forced by the implement a little way back into the casing 12 the pin 28 will ultimately be brought into engagement with that casing and thus positively prevent the bolt from being further withdrawn from operative locking position. To increase the protection against illicit operation of the lock, the ribs 22 and 23 may be formed with the recesses situated atthe portion ofthe bevelled surface 15 which lies adjacent the crack 17 between the door and frame. The face 18 of the locking-staple against which the bevelled surface of the bolt rubs to force the bolt back into'the casing when the door is being slammed is made sufficiently wide to bridge the recesses 30 and thus provide for continuous wedging action against the bolt.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing thatthe invention provides for the locking of; the doors and the like with much greater safety than has heretofore been possible with the type of latch in question. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise constructional details set forth. For example, the ribs 22 and 23 may each have only one nick or recess, these. nicks being so disposed as'to be out of alignment with each other. cessing oftlie bevelled face of the bolt may also be varied considerably according to circumstances. The locking pin 28 may also be brought'into operative position by movable members of an arrangement different from that shown in Figures 5 and 6. V

I claim 1. -A door or like latch, comprising a locking-staple and a spring-bolt having a beveled surface which lies completely across the depth of the bolt and rubs over the lockingstaple to force the bolt back during the operation of the closing of the door or the like, said beveled surface being so recessed as to leave ribs at its upper and lower edges and to form between them a channel and so that a portion of the beveled surface remains for presentation to a cooperating pressing surface on the locking-staple lying completely across the depth of the bolt, each rib having a groove lying in a direction transverse to that in which the bolt rubs against the lockingstaple, which grooves open at their ends directed towards one another into said i channel.

2. A door or like latch, comprising a locking-staple, a spring-bolt having a beveled surface which lies completely across the depth of the bolt and is so recessed as to leave; ribs at its upper and lower edges and to form between them a channel, and so that The rea portion of the beveled surface remains for presentation to a cooperating pressing surface on th locking-staple lying completely across the depth of the bolt, and means operative in the said channel for arresting back during the operation of theclosing of the door or the like, a locking catch whereof a surface is exposed in the said bevelled surface of the bolt, and means controlling said catch whereby it is arranged to give when pressure is applied to its said exposed surface and thus be brought into lockingengagement with a stationary part of the latch.

h A door or like latch comprising a bolt with a recessed bevelled surface which rubs over the locking staple of the latch to force the bolt back during the operation of the closing of the door or the like, a locking catch whereof a surface is exposed at a recess in the said bevelled surface of the bolt, and means controlling said catch whereby it is arranged to give when pressure is applied'to, its said exposed surface and thus be brought into locking engagement with the stationary part of the latch.

5. A door or like latch comprising a bolt with a bevelled surface which rubs over the locking staple of the latch to force the bolt back during the operation of the closing of.

the door or the like, said bevelled surface being so recessed as to, leave ribs at its upper and lower edges to form between them a channel, a locking catch housed in said channel with a surface of it exposed in the bevelled surface of the bolt, and means controlling said catch whereby it is arranged to give when pressure is applied to its'said exposed surface and thus be brought into locking engagement with the stationary part of the latch.

6. A door or like latch comprising a bolt with a bevelled surface which rubs over the locking staple of the latch to force the bolt back during the operation of the closin of the door or the like, said bevelled sur ace being so recessed as to leave ribs at its upper and lower edges to form between them a channel, and said ribs being'stepped so as to constitute parts of other channels opening out at their opposite ends of the topand- 'bottom faces of the bolt, a locking catch housed in said first-named channel with a surface of it exposed in the bevelled surface of the bolt, and means controlling said catch whereby it is arranged to give when pressure is applied to its said exposed surface and thus be brought into locking engagement with the stationary part of the latch. said spring controlling also said catch 10 7. A door or like latch comprising a bolt whereby the latter is arranged to give with a bevelled surface which rubs over the when pressure is applied to its exposed surlocking staple of the latch to force the bolt face and thus be brought into locking en- 5 back during the operation of the closing of gagement with a stationary part of the the door or the like, a spring tending to latch. 15 press said bolt towards its locking position, In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. and a locking catch whereof a surface is exposed in the said bevelled surface of the bolt, ETHEL MAY LAWRENCE. 

